玉竹 Yu Zhu
🌿 Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome
Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome — The Gentle Moistener for Dry Throat and Thirst 咽干口燥、口渴心烦？这枝"养阴不腻"的玉竹，长于润而不腻
Having a dry, scratchy throat, constant thirst, dry cough with little phlegm? Many of these are signs of Yin deficiency, which leads to dryness. Yu Zhu is the dried rhizome of the Fragrant Solomonseal plant, mainly produced in Hunan, which is traditionally recognised for producing the best quality. Sweet in taste and mildly cold in nature, it acts on the Lung and Stomach meridians. Traditionally, it is used to nourish Yin and moisten dryness, generating fluids and relieving thirst.
咽干口燥、口干想喝水、干咳少痰——很多是"阴虚燥"的信号。玉竹是百合科植物玉竹的干燥根茎，主产于湖南等地，以湖南所产为传统道地药材。它味甘，性微寒，归肺、胃经，功效是养阴润燥、生津止渴。
It is moistening and mildly cold in nature, yet gentle in action: it nourishes the Yin of the Lungs and Stomach without being harsh or cloying. A gentle daily remedy for dryness due to Yin deficiency, and common symptoms include dryness of the mouth and post-illness weakness.
它性微寒质润：养肺胃之阴，微寒而不峻、滋而不腻，多用于阴虚燥热的日常调养，病后体虚、口干者亦常用。
1. How to Choose Yu Zhu 一、怎样挑选玉竹？
-
色
Colour · 颜色 Yellowish-white to pale yellow, translucent, with fine longitudinal wrinkles. A chalky white or dull colour suggests poorer quality.
表面黄白色或淡黄色，半透明，有纵皱纹；颜色过白或过暗的，质量欠佳。 -
形
Size · 形态 Choose long, thick, supple pieces — avoid the shrivelled, thin ones.
条长、肉厚、质柔润者为佳；干瘪瘦小者不宜选购。 -
面
Cross-section · 断面 Horn-like and translucent surface when cut.
断面角质样、半透明。 -
香
Smell · 气味 Almost odourless.
几乎闻不到气味。 -
味
Taste · 口感 Sweet and sticky when chewed. Pieces that are not sticky when chewed, or that taste bland, suggest poorer quality.
味甘，嚼之有黏性；嚼之不发黏，味道淡的，质量欠佳。
Why is it called "Yu Zhu" (Jade Bamboo)? Its stem stands straight like a small bamboo, and its rhizome is crystal-clear like jade — that is how the ancients named it. For daily use, choose long, thick pieces with a translucent yellowish-white colour.
为什么叫"玉竹"？它茎干强直、形似小竹，根茎晶莹剔透如玉，古人因此叫它"玉竹"。日常选购，以条长肉厚、色泽黄白半透明者为佳。
2. What Are the Traditional Uses of Yu Zhu? 二、玉竹有什么作用？
In TCM, Yu Zhu is commonly used to support the body in the following situations:
中医常用玉竹调理以下几类情况：
Dry Cough & Throat
A dry cough with little phlegm and a dry, irritated throat — used to nourish Yin and moisten dryness (to moisten the Lungs).
干咳少痰、咽干口燥，用于养阴润燥（润肺）。
Thirst & Dry Mouth
A dry mouth with persistent thirst and fatigue — used to promote generation of fluids and relieve thirst.
口干口渴、气短乏力，用于生津止渴。
Internal Heat with Thirst
A parched, dry throat with excessive water intake — used to nourish Yin, generate fluids, and relieve thirst.
口燥咽干、多饮，用于养阴生津止渴。
Remember: Yu Zhu is mildly cold and gentle in action — it moistens without being cloying, and tonifies without causing stagnation. It is among the mildest of the Yin-nourishing herbs. A cough that is persistent or unusual, or worsening thirst, may be due to other reasons — consult a physician rather than purely relying on Yu Zhu water.
记住：玉竹微寒而力缓——润而不腻、补而不滞，是养阴药中作用平和的一味。干咳持续不愈或口渴异常加重，可能有其他原因，应先就医，不要只靠玉竹水拖延。
3. Who May Benefit? 三、哪些人可能适合？
If the following symptoms are due to Yin damage in Lungs and Stomach or Yin-deficiency dryness, you can add Yu Zhu to your diet, or consult a TCM physician whether it suits you:
如果经常出现以下情况，且与肺胃阴伤、阴虚燥热有关，可以在饮食中加入玉竹，或咨询中医师：
- A dry mouth and throat, with constant thirst · 口干咽干、想喝水的人
- A dry cough with little phlegm, or a dry sore throat · 干咳少痰、咽喉干痛的人
- Post-illness weakness which leads to dry mouth and fatigue · 病后体虚、口干乏力的人
- Restlessness and unsettled sleep · 心烦、睡不安稳的人
The rhizome most often appears in infusions, soups and porridge. Due to its moistening and sweet nature, it can be combined with Glehnia (Sha Shen) or Mai Dong to strengthen the Yin-nourishing effect, or balance and harmonise the taste with a few red dates.
玉竹入膳多用于煮水、煲汤、煮粥。质润味甘，可与沙参、麦冬等同用增强养阴润燥之效，或加几枚红枣调和口感。
4. When Should You Be Cautious? 四、哪些情况要谨慎？
Yu Zhu is mildly cold and moistening. It suits most people. However, people with the following should take precaution:
玉竹性微寒而滋润，多数人都适合食用，但仍需注意：
- Predominant dampness and phlegm (copious phlegm, a thick greasy tongue coating): moistening increases dampness in the body; do not take it. · 痰湿偏盛（痰多、舌苔厚腻）：滋润可能加重痰湿，不宜服用。
- A cold, weak Spleen with loose stools: Yu Zhu's mildly cold and moistening nature can worsen loose stools — do not take it. · 脾胃虚寒、大便稀溏者：玉竹微寒而滋润，可能加重腹泻，不宜服用。
- If you are taking any medication, inform your physician or pharmacist, as herb–drug interactions may occur. · 正在服用任何药物者，请告知医师或药师，以免药物相互作用。
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or chronic medical conditions — consult a physician first. · 怀孕、哺乳或患有慢性疾病者，使用前应咨询医师。
5. How to Use Yu Zhu at Home 五、玉竹怎么吃？
The rhizome most often appears in infusions, soups, and porridge. The following are general home recipes.
玉竹多用于煮水、煲汤、煮粥。以下是家庭食谱参考：
Yu Zhu 6g · 玉竹6克
Rinse the pieces quickly. Steep in 300 ml of just-boiled water for 15 minutes. Drink the infusion.
玉竹快速冲洗。以沸水300毫升冲泡，焖15分钟，代茶饮用。
Re-steep until the flavour fades. Two to three times a week is enough; continuous long-term use is not recommended.
可重复冲泡至味淡。每周喝2–3次即可，不建议长期连续饮用。
Yu Zhu 15g · 玉竹15克
Lean meat 300g · 瘦肉300克
Red dates 3 · 红枣3枚
Ginger 1 slice · 生姜1片
Water — sufficient to cover by 1cm
Blanch the meat; rinse the rhizome and dates. Simmer everything together for about 1.5 hours. Season lightly with salt.
瘦肉焯水；玉竹、红枣洗净。所有材料入锅，小火炖约1.5小时，淡盐调味。
The broth is sweet and moistening; add an extra date if it is too plain for you. · 汤味甘润；怕寡淡者可加一两枚红枣同炖。
Yu Zhu 10g · 玉竹10克
Rice 50g · 大米50克
Simmer the rhizome in 300 ml water for 20 minutes and strain. Cook the rice in the strained liquid into a porridge.
玉竹加水300毫升煮20分钟，取汁。药汁与大米同煮成粥。
Mildly sweet and moistening — suitable for those experiencing mouth dryness or convalescence. · 味甘微润，适合口干、病后调养时食用。
The amounts above are general recipe references only. Prolonged self-supplementation is not recommended. If you have a health condition or are taking medication, consult a physician first.
以上用量仅供一般食谱参考，不建议自行长期进补。有健康状况或正在服药者，请先咨询医师。
6. Common Questions About Yu Zhu 六、玉竹常见疑问
Not recommended as a daily habit. Although gentle in its therapeutic action, Yu Zhu leans toward moistening — two to three times a week is sufficient.
不建议天天喝。玉竹药性和缓，但偏于滋润，一般每周喝2–3次即可。
Both nourish Yin and promote generation of fluids, and both are mildly cold, but Mai Dong also clears the Heart and relieves restlessness, leaning toward nourishing Yin and clearing heat; Yu Zhu acts more gently, with a focus on moistening the Lungs and Stomach. For daily consumption, consult a TCM physician on which one suits you.
两者都能养阴生津、性皆微寒，但麦冬兼能清心除烦，偏于养阴清热；玉竹药力和缓，偏于润肺养胃。日常润燥选哪一味，请中医师判断哪一味更适合你。
Yu Zhu is not suitable for every kind of cough. It is used mainly in dry-heat coughs due to Yin damage in the Lungs and Stomach — resulting in a dry cough, little phlegm and a dry throat, without obvious chills or fever. Such symptoms often worsen in dry air or air-conditioned rooms. It is not suitable for a cough with predominant dampness and phlegm, or a thick greasy tongue coating. For any other types of cough, consult a physician.
玉竹不是每种咳嗽都适合。它主要用于肺胃阴伤、燥热咳嗽，表现为干咳少痰、咽干口燥，没有明显的怕冷发热，在干燥天气或空调房里加重。痰湿偏盛、舌苔厚腻的咳嗽，则不适合用玉竹。其他类型的咳嗽，请医师诊治。
Both have the same functions. Fresh Yu Zhu is crisp and tender, suited to making soups; dried Yu Zhu stores well and suits infusions. For daily consumption, buy the dried form from a traceable source.
两者功效相同，新鲜玉竹口感脆嫩、适合炖汤；干玉竹便于储存、适合煮水。日常选购，认准正规渠道的干货即可。
Yu Zhu's virtue lies in "moistening without cloying": mildly cold yet gentle in action, it nourishes the Yin of Lungs and Stomach, suiting Yin-deficiency dryness. But for those with predominant dampness and phlegm or a cold Spleen, a moistening herb can work against them, aggravating dampness. Understanding the nature of the herb, which syndrome it suits and using it in moderate amounts is of great importance.
玉竹的特点，在于"润而不腻"：微寒而力缓地滋养肺胃之阴，适合阴虚燥热的日常调养。但痰湿偏盛、脾胃虚寒的人，滋润之品可能适得其反。了解药材，对证使用，适量为宜。
This article is for general herbal knowledge only and does not replace individualised diagnosis or treatment. For herbal therapy, please consult a qualified TCM physician. · 本文仅供中医药知识科普，不代替个别化诊疗。如需使用中药调理，请咨询合格中医师。